{"id":1906,"date":"2015-06-22T09:00:02","date_gmt":"2015-06-22T16:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/?p=1906"},"modified":"2020-12-10T13:45:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T21:45:44","slug":"toefl-listening-vs-other-english-listening-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/toefl-listening-vs-other-english-listening-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"TOEFL Listening vs. Other English Listening Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you study for the TOEFL, it\u2019s important to practice English listening as much as you can. This means using both TOEFL practice materials and non-TOEFL practice. For this reason, Magoosh recommends listening to podcasts, news videos, TED Talks, and so on<\/a> in our top TOEFL Listening tips<\/a>. Listening to a variety of academic and educational English audio tracks will make you a stronger listener who is better prepared for the exam.<\/p>\n

Still, you need to be aware that certain TOEFL audio is different from other kinds of English listening. For one thing, TOEFL listening tracks tend to have slower speech compared to other kinds of listening practice. This may be a relief for you if you\u2019re having trouble keeping up with the speech on websites like Al Jazeera English<\/a> or 60 Second Science<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, the biggest difference between TOEFL audio tracks and the speech on news and educational websites is not speed. The biggest difference is pacing<\/em>. Most podcasts and news reports have a steady, even pace of speech that is typical of English language news broadcasting. TOEFL Listening tracks are different. They usually have a somewhat uneven pace of speech. TOEFL speech is less like broadcasting and more like the unscripted talking heard in everyday life. TOEFL speakers speed up, slow down, and change their tone. They also sometimes have abrupt verbal pauses.<\/p>\n

What doesn’t<\/em> change or shift in TOEFL speech is the speakers’ use of the basic rules of English intonation. English intonation hits high pitches and low pitches, with rising and falling notes that are a bit like musical notes. It does this in a way that is very predictable. If you can understand these intonational rules, you can follow the pace of TOEFL Listening, even when the pace is not as consistent as your other listening practice.<\/p>\n

Here are three very good tutorials on the intonation rules of English. The first two sources are from the Magoosh TOEFL Blog. The third source is from the Rachel\u2019s English YouTube Channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n